Governor, Idris Wada, has appointed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, to head the Transition Committee responsible for the process of handing over to a new government in the state.
This occurred when the state governor- elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, yesterday pleaded with his aggrieved deputy, Hon. Biodun Faleke, to have a change of heart and join in the ongoing reconciliation process in the state.
According to the governor, the committee is expected to manage the process leading to the handover of power to a new administration by January 27 next year.
This was disclosed during the stakeholders’ meeting of the People Democratic Party (PDP) held yesterday in Lokoja.
The transition committee, the governor noted, would work with a similar committee by the All Progressives Congress to ensure a smooth transition of power, and avoid any vacuum in government.
Wada also set up a Steering Committee to be headed by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, saying the two committees are expected to put the performance of the administration in clear perspectives before the handover date while the committees are to be inaugurated today.
According to the governor, the PDP government has concluded plans to challenge the November 21 state governorship election in court.
Wada said the decision to challenge the result of the election in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Bello of the APC as winner of the election is to seek proper interpretation of the law and relevant sections of the constitution and the Electoral Act in connection with the election.
“We are contesting the election on the basis of malpractices and also issues regarding the application of the law; the constitution and the Electoral Act. It is not a personal thing. It is purely a legal issue, and we need those relevant sections of our electoral laws to be properly interpreted in view of the unique incidents that have happened in connection with the governorship election.
“ We believe that posterity has entrusted this responsibility on our party to seek interpretation of these issues,” Wada said.
Meanwhile, Bello has pleaded with Faleke, to have a change of heart and join in the ongoing reconciliation process in the state.
According to Bello, dialogue remains the best solution to party issues, saying he had absolute confidence in the leadership of the party to end the disagreement, he described Faleke as a brother and that what was happening in the state was a family affair.
The governor-elect was responding to report credited to Faleke in which he said he would not attend the inauguration of Bello, neither would he support him.
However, Bello said he was not prepared to join issues with Faleke over the Kogi governorship tussle.
Bello’s reaction was contained in a statements issued yesterday in Abuja, and signed by his media assistance, Suleiman Abdulmalik. In the statement, Bello advised Faleke to accept the outcome of the election as the wish of God.
He added: “I will continue to appealed to him and others to join hands with me in moving Kogi State forward, in politics we agree and disagree but dialogue remains the only solution to issues, but what happen in my state is an act of God”
Bello disclosed that the ongoing reconciliation in the state has paid off, adding that most of late Audu supporters are now with him.
“Those who matters in Audu’s camp are already working for me even before the supplementary election and that the reconciliation effort greatly help in defeating the PDP” he said
Abdulmalik said: “All hands must be on deck and we must rally round our candidate and the governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. No winner, no vanquished; we must continue as one united family that we are.
“Hon. Faleke and other aggrieved party members should accept the new development as the wish of God. We plead with them to cooperate with Bello to develop the state in line with the vision of our late icon, Prince Abubakar Audu.
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